8 Tips to Ensure Your Project's Success

No Matter Who You Engage, These TIPS Will Lead You To a Great Outcome:

1. Pick the Right Vendor - Engage an experienced firm with professionals you can trust to minimize your time and maximize the value of your investment. Make sure they address the solution and not just provide a quick fix.

2. Draft a Scope of Work - Request a Scope of Work that details your existing environment and flags any issues that could delay the project (power, rack space, server or storage resources, firmware or license upgrades). Include timelines, anticipated results and vendor involvement (implementation, process planning, and training).

3. Start Project with a Kick Off Meeting - Define your project’s success with a “Kick Off” meeting. Include all those impacted by the project. Agree on roles, responsibilities, firm budget, clear communication protocol and timeline. When everyone starts off on the same page, it is easier to keep them there.

4. Keep the Whole Team Involved - Engage your team early on, on both the business and IT sides. Be realistic about the staff or in-house expertise that you assign to the project. They may not have the time or the knowledge the project requires. Don’t underestimate the input of team members and the prospective they bring to the table.

5. Designate an Internal Project Manager - Track the project’s progress internally. Establish a firm decision making process for all aspects of the project: who can make decisions and who is the lead regarding any changes. Define one clear communication channel between you and the vendor so nothing slips through the cracks.

6. Be Specific with the Budget - Establish a comprehensive budget and consider an appropriate contingency for optional work that may arise in the course of the project. You can avoid being caught off guard by project hitches that may add cost. Be prepared by knowing your threshold for cost and your maximum number.

7. Establish Project Milestones - Establish and approve realistic milestones for a project of any significant length. Consider the impact of your own staff resources and schedules. These targets will help you stay on top of the project and prepare for possible delays.

8. Failing to Plan Is Planning to Fail - Proper planning prior to action has proven to save time and money. Conversely, more time and money are wasted backtracking and redoing work. A little more attention of the front end goes a long way to making your project more successful and preventing stress and headache.